DUSHANBE, February 28, 2011, Asia-Plus — The next meeting of the Tajik-Pak joint commission for trade and economic cooperation is opening in Dushanbe today.
According to the Ministry Energy and Industries (MoEI), a Pakistani delegation, led by Federal Minister for Privatization Syed Naveed Qama Uz-Zaman has arrived in Tajikistan to participate in the commission. The Pakistani delegation members include Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and Statistics Suheil Reihan and Pakistani Ambassador to Tajikistan Khalid Usman Qaiser, the source said.
Tajik delegation participating in the commission is led by Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali.
The Central Asia-South Asia 1000 (CASA-1000) regional project providing for construction of high voltage electricity transmission lines for electricity exports from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan will be among major topics of the meeting, which is also expected to consider issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in sectors like, energy, industry, agriculture, tourism, finance, science, culture and sports.
Tajik Ambassador to Pakistan Zubaidullo Zubaidov says the commission will also discuss launching direct air routes connecting Tajikistan and Pakistan and it cannot be ruled out that Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, and Pakistan’s PIA (Pakistan International Airlines Corporation) will sign an agreement.
According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Pakistan in 2010 valued at US$21.6 million. This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Pakistan estimated at US$15.4 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Pakistan worth US$6.2 million.
